STOKESDALE town council
Aug. 12 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS as reported by PATTI STOKES Mayor John Flynt called the monthly meeting to order at 7 p.m. Following an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, the meeting agenda was adopted with two changes.
84 8-1-1 calls were processed. The town has received 84 resumes for the fulltime, permanent town clerk position.
5 0 (in separate votes) to approve minutes from Feb. 15 and March 4 council meetings.
Events Committee. Council member Derek Foy reminded everyone the Christmas parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. Volunteers to help with the event are appreciated.
REPORTS
FINANCE REPORT
Fire Safety. Dep. Chief Randy Southard with Stokesdale Fire Department reported the department responded to 87 calls in July; 54 of the calls were medical- and traffic accident-related. Firefighters received 502.5 hours of training in July, which Southard noted “speaks well to paid and volunteer staff,” and they participated in five public education events. As a safety tip, Southard advised citizens to prepare for hurricane season, which can bring severe thunderstorms and wind damage to our area. “Have supplies ready, check your generators and make sure you have the right kind of gas, and stay prepared for general power outages,” he said.
Administrative. Interim town clerk Dale Martin said 640 water bills were invoiced in July, four water meters were sold, and
Finance Officer Kim Thacker gave an overview of the town’s finances and presented a Budget vs. Actual report for the general fund and water enterprise accounts. With about 1 ½ months into the fiscal year, the town has $195,450 in its Bank of Oak Ridge and $197,564 in its Fidelity general fund checking accounts and $2.58 million in CDARS. $12,433.93 was transferred from the water enterprise account for shared administrative expenses. Thacker will be attending an online local government finance class Aug. 30-Sept. 3 through the UNC School of Government. On behalf of the town, Thacker submitted an application in May for a state grant that will come from federal dollars made available through the American Rescue Plan. Stokesdale’s application was accepted and the town will receive
$725,475 in two disbursements, one this fall and the other in 2022. The town will have until Dec. 31, 2024, to use or commit the funds.
5 0 to open a special account for the American Rescue Plan grant money the town will be receiving. CITIZEN COMMENTS Tina Reynolds of Belews Creek Road spoke of her concerns with a neighbor who has planted 46 tall trees along their property line. Reynolds said she researched a definition of the town’s Ordinance 217, regarding fences and vegetation. “I have a different definition of vegetation than Oliver Bass (the town planner),” Reynolds said. “Vegetation is with no human activity – she has planted over 100 trees in her yard and that’s not a natural activity. I have no problem with her having hedges, but she is devaluing my property and after many conversations, she has planted more trees. This tree fence is going to block our views of Pilot Mountain, and our sunsets… It’s taking my enjoyment away from my property.” The “green giants” her neighbor has planted will be 30 to 50 feet tall when mature, Reynolds said, and then asked the town how the situation might be remedied. “You have height restrictions on fences – why are trees not included in that?” She asked. “There is a wall of green giants… she has isolated me … I’m not going to feel comfortable there
when those trees start growing.” Bass explained his interpretation of the town’s ordinance regarding trees and vegetation, and said his interpretation could be challenged by going through the town’s Board of Adjustment (B of A). Town Attorney Tom Medlin recommended Reynolds consult with a real estate attorney or argue the definition of vegetation before the B of A, while noting any change in the town’s definition of vegetation would only apply to cases going forward.
PUBLIC HEARING Rezoning, HB (Highway Business) to RS-30 (Single-family residential); the property is at 6905 U.S. 158 and owned by Lucie Wilson Joyner, who has requested .82 acres of about 1.44 acres be rezoned.
5 0 to approve Joyner’s rezon-
ing request.
Text Amendment. Council debated whether warehouses and self-storage units should be permitted uses in the town’s GB (General Business) and HB (Highway Business) districts. Bass explained this amendment was initiated by the town council and presented to the Planning Board for review. If approved by the council, warehouses and self-storage will only be approved in LI (Light Industrial) and HI (Heavy Industrial) districts in the future. The Planning Board voted to recommend approving the text amendment, but to not be effective until Jan. 1, 2022,
Saturday, Aug. 28, 6:30p–9:00p Summerfield Community Park Amphitheater (5404 Centerfield Rd.)
beach/oldies/cover FREE CONCERT
eric & the chill tones brought to you by:
Taco Bros. food truck and Kona Ice on site! Free parking. Bring your blankets, chairs, friends. w w w. s u m m e r f i e l d n c . g o v Check the town’s Facebook page for weather updates.
